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[hugster62]

nope, just checked again after leaving for 20-30 mins, the water level is right where it should be.

[Ken T]

Could the smoke be unburnt petrol?. If one pot was occasionally not firing, then you would get unburnt petrol out the back. THis happened to me once with an old datsun with a duff head gasket. Water was getting in, and some pots weren't firing. It was quite amusing driving along with your own fog bank following! , although I guess the people behind weren't too happy. Are the plugs OK?

[hotel21]

Is the expansion tank actually doing anything?  I mean, does the water circulate through it, tank get hot, pressurise etc?  Reason being if the tank is somehow blocked (using things like radweld and k-seal!!, not really recommended...) then water loss will not show on the tank and engine be running without the proper circulation, hence steam from rear, with no aparent coolant loss but the system will be getting progressively drier....

just a thought.....

B

[hugster62]

I thought exactly the same thing but the temperature doesn't seem to increase enough.  After 10 miles i thought it would have gotten higher than 95. I will go and check though, how can i tell if there is water anywhere else other than the expansion tank? Is it just a matter of removing pipes to see if there is any water in them?  Thanks

[hugster62]

when i opened the expansion tank at the parts store it was hot and pressure had built up though. Water started to come out when i took the lid off. Just thought.

[hotel21]

When the system is cool enough todo so safely, remove the expansion tank cap and then squeeze the large radiator hoses to/from the rad and watch for water movement within the tank.  As you squeeze the hose the displaced water should move into the tank.  No great need to physically remove a hose to see if its clear....

[hugster62]

ok i just took the lid off and squeezed the pipes and nothing is happening from either one.  I squeezed quite hard but no water is being squeezed back into the tank.

[hugster62]

Please forgive my ignorance when it comes to mechanics... I just started the car and removed the expansion tank lid. The water inside it is just sitting there not doing anything while the car is running.  Is that normal for that to do that, or should it be pumped continuously around the engine while the car is running?

Graham

[ians]

Does the 'smoke' smell of anything? oily (doesn't sound like that from the colour), antifreeze (sweet), petrol...?

If the engine was cold I don't think you would see anything in the header tank. May be wrong though.

[hugster62]

smells like anti freeze - like when a radiator bursts. I took the pipe from the expansion bottle off and poured water down it, it must have gone somewhere because the expansion tank started to fill up so i guess there isn;t a block anywhere.

[Marks DTM Calib]

SO....it is loosing water.....

[hugster62]

but the expansion tank isn't going down thats the problem. I haven't had to fill it up at all since i bought it. The level was exactly at the arrow on the tank, it still is today.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Any oil loss.....

[ians]

I think he said he was losing oil, but doesn't appear to be camcover seal.   Is it dripping off the bottom?   What rate is it losing it?

But whatever it is , presumably coolant but he's not losing any :-/, is going up the exhaust rather than being burnt off it.
Have we absolutely confirmed that?

If it was oil I think it would be dark and smelly - unmistakable really.

and what is this noise?  something breaking down under load - gasket, electrical?  or is it mechanical.   Is it temp related or speed/load?   or a completely different problem?

Just trying to summarise - quite a challenge this one!
Cheers
Ian

[Gaffers]

Huggy, where are you located?  I could prob come around and do some tests for you such as compression which would let you know one way or another what the prob is.